At least three people were killed on Monday when suspected armed herdsmen attacked Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. In a separate incident, Boko Haram insurgents struck a military formation in Borno State, killing two soldiers.
The Yelewata attack occurred just weeks after a similar assault in the same community claimed more than 200 lives. It also comes shortly after President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Benue State, during which he set up a committee to address the rising violence.
A local government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the victims were attacked on their farms. “Three people were killed and three others injured, though some managed to escape unharmed. The attack angered our people, especially women, who blocked the Makurdi-Lafia road in protest,” the source said.
He expressed concern over renewed violence despite government assurances of safety, noting that over 3,000 displaced residents in Makurdi may now be unwilling to return.
Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, confirmed the attack but clarified it occurred in a community near Yelewata. The Chairman of Guma LGA, Maurice Orwough, also confirmed the incident and appealed for peace.
Boko Haram Strike in Borno
In Kirawa community, Gwoza LGA, Borno State, suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked a military base on Saturday night, reportedly killing two soldiers. According to sources, the insurgents entered from two points—Valle village and a local filling station—at about 9:30 p.m., shooting indiscriminately.
The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, confirmed the incident, adding that many residents fled across the border into Cameroon. He described it as “unfortunate and shocking” that the commanding officer was absent during the attack.
Police spokesperson ASP Kenneth Daso confirmed the incident but said casualty figures were yet to be verified. Some accounts claim several insurgents were killed in a counterattack, while others report the abduction of a female student.
However, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, refuted claims that Nigerian troops were attacked. He said the incident occurred in Kirawa, Cameroon, involving Cameroonian soldiers, not Nigerian forces, and urged journalists to verify reports before publishing.
Foreign Armed Groups Blamed for Plateau Killings
In Plateau State, Senator Diket Plang, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity, alleged that foreign armed groups working with local collaborators are behind recent killings in Bokkos LGA.
He said the attackers have been targeting Mushere chiefdom and surrounding areas since April, with the aim of displacing residents for territorial occupation. The senator urged security agencies to expand operations, establish permanent military outposts, improve road networks, and strengthen community vigilance. He also called on relief agencies to address the growing humanitarian crisis.
Zamfara Under Siege
In Zamfara State, a security report from the Zamfara Circle Community Initiative revealed that between August 4 and 10, 15 villages were attacked, leading to 144 kidnappings, 24 deaths, and 16 injuries.
Communities in Bakura, Tsafe, Mafara, Gummi, and Bukkuyum LGAs were targeted. The group warned that rural communities remain vulnerable to heavily armed criminal groups.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force announced a successful operation under Operation Fasan Yamma, in which precision airstrikes and ground assaults on Makakkari Forest killed several terrorist leaders and fighters, thwarting plans to attack a farming community.
U.S. Urges Joint Regional Response to Terrorism
The U.S. has called on West African nations and Sahelian states to unite against terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISIS-Sahel, and ISIS-West Africa.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Dorothy Shea, told the UN Security Council that terrorism has caused widespread suffering in countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. She stressed that terrorists “do not respect borders” and urged enhanced military cooperation, intelligence sharing, and respect for human rights.
She also warned that the ongoing crisis in Sudan is exacerbating instability in the Sahel through porous borders and the proliferation of small arms. The U.S., she said, will continue to work with regional partners to counter violent extremism and protect civilians.
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If you want, I can also turn this into a crisp news bulletin-style version for quick radio or social media updates. That would make it short, punchy, and easy to digest.
